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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 26, 2005 Something More Needs To Be Done |
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Frontline Devotion for Holy Saturday, March 26, 2005 By
Brenda Kessler
Matthew
27: 57-66
On this day after the crucifixion I have chosen to take a careful look at verses
57 through 60 of the assigned 27th chapter of Matthew verses 57 through 66.
By this time most of the people who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus had
returned to their homes to live their lives. However, in Matthew we learn
that a man named Joseph of Arimathea did not forget about Jesus. Joseph of
Arimathea noticed that something more needed to be done for Jesus. Joseph
of Arimathea wanted Jesus to have a proper burial so he took a chance and asked
Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth, placed it in his own tomb that he had cut out of the rock, and
rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb.
In this year 2005 we have the benefit of knowing what tomorrow brings and so the
tendency is to jump right into the resurrection story. I, like so many of
Jesus’ disciples, return to living my life after remembering the crucifixion
and never look for anything more that needs to be done for Jesus.
Selfishly I seem to remember only that he died and rose from the dead for ME.
And then I think of Nivea, a member of my congregation. Nivea noticed that
our wheelchair-bound young man is usually relegated to the far rear of the
sanctuary during worship on Sunday mornings now that our sanctuary is
overcrowded and the space is no longer available for Rod further up in the
sanctuary. Nivea approached my husband who is the chairperson of the new
building committee and voiced her concern for Rod. She mentioned that Rod
could neither see nor hear where he now must sit in his wheelchair to worship.
She suggested that Rod and others like him should have a place in the front of
the sanctuary where they can participate fully in the worship experience.
My husband agreed and followed through with her concern, ashamed that he himself
had not noticed Rod’s predicament. The property committee is now
considering how to configure the front of the sanctuary so that wheelchairs can
be positioned in the front of the sanctuary where the handicapped can worship
more meaningfully even while we renovate the sanctuary.
My husband was not alone in not noticing Rod’s predicament. Most of us
were worshipping as usual, totally oblivious to Rod’s need. We were
living our lives as usual, just as Jesus’ disciples had done, not noticing
that something more needed to be done.
However, Nivea, like Joseph of Arimathea, noticed that something more needed to
be done for Jesus. Nivea did something more for Jesus when she noticed
that something more needed to be done for Rod!
Prayer: Thank you, God, for Joseph of Arimathea who noticed that something
more needed to be done for Jesus. Thank you for Nivea who noticed that
something more needed to be done for Rod. As we celebrate your
resurrection in our own lives help us to see you in other people’s lives as
well. Help us to see that when we do something more for others we are
doing something more for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
(Permission was given to use Nivea’s and Rod’s names in this devotion.)
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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